Executive Committee

President

Ralph Propper retired in 2015 from the California Air Resources Board’s Air Quality and Climate Science Research Section. Until becoming ECOS president, he was an adjunct chemistry professor at Sacramento City College. He is also a board member of Breathe California Sacramento Region, and Sacramento’s “Green Incubator”.

Immediate Past President

Brandon Rose currently serves on the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Board of Directors and the Sacramento County Treasury Oversight Committee. Brandon works for the California Air Resources Board with a focus on reducing air pollution emissions from the transportation sector. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from UC Davis.

Treasurer

Earl Withycombe is a consulting air pollution engineer, community activist and recovering elected official. Earl’s direct participation in ECOS’ work began in 1992 with advocacy and testimony on the 1993 county general plan update. He has been an indispensable leader on the ECOS board of directors ever since.

Secretary

Andy Sawyer is a past president of ECOS, a former chair of Sierra Club California, and chair of the Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter. An environmental lawyer, Andy has served as chair of the California State Bar Environmental Law Section and the Sacramento County Bar Association Environmental Law Section.

Habitat 2020 Committee

Co-Chair

Rob Burness graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Biological Sciences. Rob served as a land use planner for the Sacramento County Planning Department, where he focused on compact, efficient urban growth that minimizes impact on natural habitat. Rob is also involved with the Sierra Club.

Co-Chair

After retiring from a career in real estate investing, Sean has dedicated his life to saving habitat in our region. He is currently the conservation chair for the Motherlode Chapter of the Sierra Club, co -chair of Habitat 2020, on the board and ex com of ECOS and a founding member of Save Our Sandhill Cranes.

Transportation, Air Quality and Climate Change Committee

Co-Chair

John Deeter has been a board member of ECOS since 2005, and has served as Treasurer (2007-14), and as Chair/Co-Chair of the Transportation, Air Quality & Climate Change Committee since 2015. He is a passionate advocate of non-auto modes of transportation and rides his bicycle frequently. He is retired, after 30 years of astronomical research at the University of Washington.

Co-Chair

Jon is an attorney in private practice in the Sacramento area with expertise in disabled peoples’ rights, elder law, Social Security, housing law, nonprofit law and a passion for preserving the environment. A father and grandfather, Jon joined the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) board of directors in 2006 and became President of the Board for 2011- 2012. He has also been co-chair of the Organizational Development Committee.

Organizational Development Committee

Co-Chair

Craig Segall joined the ECOS board in 2018. He is a former Sierra Club lawyer, and now is Assistant Chief Counsel for the California Air Resources Board (though he serves ECOS in his private, non-legal, capacity). Craig is focused on issues of environmental justice and organizational inclusion.

Co-Chair

Sophie focuses on municipal and environmental law at Best Best & Krieger LLP. She interned for a water development nonprofit in Jodhpur, India. Sophie was an executive editor of Environs, an environmental law and policy journal.

Land Use Committee

Co-Chair

Alex Kelter, MD is retired from the California Department of Health Services (DHS) where he headed its injury and violence prevention branch. The New Partners for Smart Growth propelled him toward a relationship with ECOS upon his retirement. Since then, Alex has been on the Board of Directors of ECOS, and served as President in 2009 and 2010.

Co-Chair

Robert Meagher has tirelessly kept up the project list for ECOS, which includes all new relevant proposed developments in the region. He has also managed to consolidate and organize the countless PDF documents that often make up long CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) documents, and their corresponding attachments, into a single database categorized by region, priority and timing. Making these documents easier to use and refer to cuts down on the time it takes ECOS committees to digest and comment on environmental documents, effectively making it simpler for us to engage in the CEQA process.

At-Large Director Representative

Ron Maertz spent his entire career working in environmental public service. Since his retirement, Ron has become actively involved in ECOS, serving as one of ECOS’s representatives to the Smart Growth Leadership Recognition Program Committee and as its Land Use Chair / Co-Chair for over 10 years. Ron was selected as Environmentalist of the Year in 2012.

At-Large Director Representative

Beilul Naizghi came to Sacramento as an Americorp VISTA at NeighborWorks Sacramento in August 2017. She currently works as a Project Assistant at Mercy Housing and is most interested in encouraging infill, transit oriented affordable housing in Sacramento. Beilul has a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University in Public Policy.

At-Large Directors

Lynne Goldsmith lausmith2again [at] gmail [dot] comLynne Goldsmith has been passionate about environmental issues her whole life. Her career included Bicycle Program Manager for Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority; public outreach and education for the City of Los Angeles Wastewater Program and City of Burbank Recycling launch. Since moving to Sacramento, she volunteers with ECOS, 350 Sacramento and STAR.

Nailah Pope-Harden nailahph [at] gmail [dot] comNailah Pope- Harden is a community organizer from south Sacramento working on environmental justice, community development and civic engagement. She is passionate about equitable resources for all. She got involved in ECOS transportation work in 2016 and joined the ECOS board in 2018.

Spencer Marshall srmarshall23 [at] yahoo [dot] comSpencer Marshall joined ECOS as an at-large board member in 2013 while attending CSU Sacramento. Spencer was a scientific aid in the 401 Wetlands Protection Unit for the State Water Resources Control Board and upon completing his degree in environmental studies he transferred to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. He serves on the Habitat 2020 committee and is involved with the water group. Spencer is passionate about environmental conservation and is particularly focused on the challenges California is facing in addressing long-term water supply.

Chris Brown info [at] sacclimate [dot] orgChris Brown is a nationally recognized expert in water conservation and drought. He left his position as Executive Director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council in 2014 to work on climate issues as well as his ongoing water-related work. He also serves as the coordinator of the Sacramento Climate Coalition.B

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Upcoming Events

The Organizational Development Committee of ECOS works on: Strengthening the nonprofit structure Oversight of fundraising efforts Monitoring our progress on the ECOS strategic plan Work to renew and initiate both individual and organizational memberships ECOS public relations and outreach As of December 2018, the Organizational Development Committee will be meeting every third Monday, generally at[...]

The ECOS Board of Directors meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month (odd-numbered months)We host a brief social/networking reception (with wine and light refreshments) at 5:30 pm. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm.Please visit our website or facebook for the agenda. You do NOT need to be a member of ECOS to attend. Come see what[...]